Tragedy struck a popular British vacation destination as three individuals lost their lives amidst towering waves on a Spanish island.
A Dutch tourist was among the deceased, with nine others urgently taken to the hospital after being swept into the sea at the bustling resort city of Puerto de la Cruz, located in the island’s north.
In another unfortunate occurrence, six French tourists found themselves in peril, suffering injuries after being caught by similar waves in Roque de las Bodegas, situated on Tenerife’s northeastern edge.
The second fatality involved a 43-year-old local resident who perished at Charco del Viento, a scenic natural pool complex just west of Puerto de la Cruz.
Additionally, authorities discovered the body of an unidentified man floating off the coast near El Cabezo beach in Granadilla, situated in the island’s southwest.
The most devastating incident, resulting in the death of a 79-year-old Dutch woman, unfolded around 3 PM yesterday, marking a day of sorrow for the island’s visitors and locals alike.
A regional government-run emergency response coordination centre, giving a full update on what happened, said: ‘A woman has died and nine people were injured after being swept into the sea by a wave.’
It added: ‘Local police and other people who were at the scene rescued those affected from the water.
A Dutch tourist died and nine people were rushed to hospital after being swept into the sea in the popular northern city resort of Puerto de la Cruz
The incident with the most casualties, in which the 79-year-old Dutch woman died, occurred around 3pm yesterday
A tourist takes a photo of her daughter with large waves in the background during the alert for poor sea conditions in the Canary Islands, Puerto De La Cruz, Spain, March 26, 2024
‘Police confirmed one of those had gone into cardiac arrest and began to try to revive her.
‘Paramedics continued with those resuscitation efforts when they arrived without success and she was confirmed dead at the scene.
‘Three of the nine people injured were in a serious condition when they were transferred to hospital.’
A spokesman for the centre said they had suffered a range of injuries, including hip and leg injuries.
They were taken to different hospitals on the island.
The incident in which a 43-year-old man lost his life at Charco del Viento occurred just before 4.45pm. Local reports described him as a local living in nearby La Orotava who was fishing when he was swept into the sea.
Emergency responders said: ‘The alert received said the man had fallen into the sea and needed help.
‘A helicopter rescued him and took him to a helicopter landing area at the docks in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
‘Once there he was confirmed dead due to the severity of the injuries he had suffered.
‘An investigation led by the Civil Guard is ongoing.’
The incident in which the French tourists were hurt, the first of yesterday’s dramas which happened around 11.30am, is said to have occurred after they ignored warning signs and got too close to the sea.
Tourists react to a large wave in Puerto De La Cruz, during the alert for bad sea conditions in the Canary Islands. Spain, March 26, 2024
Emergency responders confirmed none had suffered life-threatening injuries. Three men and three women were among the casualties.
They managed to get out of the sea after being swept into the water by a wave with the help of other people. Five were taken to hospital, one in an air ambulance.
The nationality of the man said to have been in cardiac arrest when he was pulled out of the sea at El Cabezo beach in Granadilla, around 2pm yesterday, has not been revealed.
Local authorities say he was pulled out of the sea ‘after being found floating in the water’ and have not clarified yet whether he ended up in the ocean in the same circumstances as those swept off their feet by large waves.
The day of the three deaths, Canary Islands officials had reminded locals and holidaymakers to exercise ‘maximum caution at the coast.’
They said: ‘Don’t stand at the end of piers or breakwaters, and do not risk taking photographs or videos near where the waves break.’
The alert about sea conditions was first sounded on Friday.
Between January and October 54 people died from drowning in the Canary Islands.
